Priorities all gone wrong

When I was living out in the UK back in 2004, many Malaysians that I crossed paths with always had a debate with me with regards to the negatives of going back to Malaysia. “What’s the point?? The country (Malaysia) is going to the dogs” – was their constant mantra. I smiled and ignored it, telling myself, what a shame, them allowing the country (UK) that once ruled our land, rule their minds too. It can’t be that bad. Well, I convinced myself that when I get back home (Malaysia) it would be good, real good. I was born here in Malaysia and was brought up there, surely and truly it would be easy.

It is with great shame I write this today after 19 months since I have been back, biting back on my beliefs and understand the warning that came my way from the British minded Malaysians. My reasons are as follows:

But before I allow my emotional side guide me through this letter and list them all for the benefit of resting my case, let me just concluded that it is not easy for a young single lady living in this country on her own.

Please pardon my language throughout this letter as I am sure that I still do have some freedom of speech in this country.

1) Came back to my homeland and left my family back in the UK. My mother pleaded, begged and even threatened me to stay on the British soil. But my patriotism and adamant nature turned itself into a ticket to Malaysia truly Asia. Started my home in a little cozy apartment in KL and needed to register the phone lines, electricity, water and the whole works. Now, this can’t be hard, right? After all, I am Malaysian and I speak the language. So I thought. To cut the long story short, the service I received from Telekoms – a disaster, the information I got from one agent to another in the same company and may I also add, the same building – contradictory, and the after service – Horrendous!!! What good came out of that?? Well, I am a Trainer in a 5 star hotel here in Malaysia and I use this story as a example of bad customer service. Oh thank you, Telekoms. It is right when they say, if you hate a service, you tell 10 other people but not the service provider. But in my case, not only did I tell 10, in total of all the trainings I have done, it’s added up to more than 100 and I also told the service provider, to which I got a RM50 rebate. Oh, please applaud yourselves, Telekoms.
2) During one of my visit to Malaysia (while I was in the UK) I had to renew my driving license. With this whole new innovative technology (so I thought) things would be easier. I must say, the systems in this country, just doesn’t fail to proof its useless existence. It took me in total of 5 hours to renew my driving license. Why?? Well, went to the post office, was told to go to JPJ. Went there and was told because it is all now in the MyKad, I’ll have to go to JPN. Went to JPN and alas! Got it all sorted after 5 hours. All in my MyKad. She (lady behind the counter in JPN) threw away my old driving license (the pink laminated card) and told me now all information is in the MyKad. That’s good, all info in one source. I thought, but boy oh boy, was I wrong yet again. Had to renew my driving license this year and I caught myself in a little verbal battle with the lady at the counter as she has insisted I pay a fine of RM20 for not having that pink laminated card. Why punish me for something your party did in the first place. Ridiculous!! What contradictory information??

3) Today, the pinnacle of it all. The reason I am writing this in the first place. Took a day off from work to sort some car transfer and road tax. Headed to Pusphakom and managed to get the car inspected. Then went to JPN in Wangsa Maju. Totally lost with what to do but had called many to enquire about the forms I need in advance to do the transfer of the name. I remember calling the JPN hotline during work one day, and when I got this lady on line, I asked her all the question I had, even after going through the website, she snapped in Malay. Said that she is spending more then 5 minutes on the phone with me. I asked her if that was a problem and she said, she was told to only spend not more than 5 minutes with one person on the phone. What procedure is that?? Who ever made that?? That got me real irritated. Thanked her (for doing nothing) and called again. After numerous call, conflicting information, surfing the necessary site for clarification, I went to JPJ. Was it a success?? You guess?? NOT… was told that the owner of the car had to be present. What if the owner is not in the country?? Can’t a certified copy of his identification card by a legal lawyer do any good?? Are we kidding, it’s Malaysia. I should have known better. Well, guess another off day from work to sort this, because after all they only operate the same time as my working hours. The number of leaves I have taken from work to sort things like this, really not worth it.

Then I came back, thought to myself, should I have listened to those warning?? I am not one who would whine about something (Ok, maybe sometimes) I preach about “shape up, or ship up”. But how much more do I have to “shape up” when the system works against me. “Ship out” – I am working towards it. But before that, I need to rest me case.
We need to really go back to basics. Instead of wasting all that money in sending the angkasawans to space, building sport complex in England (Oh, God! What is wrong with us)
1) start training the people who work in JPJ, JPN and all governmental offices.
2) Ensure information of any sort, especially the system is easily assessable to many
3) Improve the transportation system – why have all that amazing touch screen machines at the LRT station when it will only take coins??
God! Our priorities are screwed up!!
But we are just to busy spending money at all the wrong places and shutting people up. And this will certainly call for all those rallies happening lately. I was against it, but I now understand their frustration. I decided I will voice out through another way.

What good has come out of all these? Well today, I am a registered voter. Regardless of which country I am in, I will sure make it back to Malaysia (which I am no longer proud to call it home) to cast my vote. And the only justice I can do, is to ensure my kids are not brought up here, till we get the basics right. I am even considering political asylum in another land. (Yup, go ahead and laugh)
Now, can someone please reaffirm this - Priorities all gone wrong??